Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Towards A Formal Theory Of Humor In Organizations, Richard Joseph Hayes

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Current theories and models of humor conceptualize humor at the individual, dyadic, and organizational level. These theories laid the foundation for research and empirical findings that have established humor’s impact in the workplace. Yet, because these theories are not integrated, they individually do not offer a comprehensive view of humor in the workplace across different levels, hindering the development of multilevel research designs. Additionally, the ambiguity of these narrative theories hampers empirical testing precision. This dissertation expands the literature by introducing a mathematical, multilevel model of humor and tests that theory using computational simulation methods. Synthetic environments reproduced observed correlations …

Investigating The Costs And Economic Impact Of Flight Delays In The Aviation Industry And The Potential Strategies For Reduction, Ashmith Anupkumar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study addressed a critical issue in our travel life: flight delays. This study covers all aspects of a flight delay, from its causes and consequences to reduction strategies. The focused research questions were: To determine the outcome of flight delays in the aviation industry, to determine costs associated with flight delays for airlines, airports, and passengers, and to determine strategies for reducing flight delays in the aviation industry for robust findings. The findings for each question were as follows: the primary causes were overscheduling, airport hubbing, late check-ins, technical failure, etc. And the consequences were significant financial loss, the …

Essays On Operations Management Problems In Service And Retail Systems, Ruijie Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Customers' waiting experiences are crucial in service and retail systems, and this thesis investigates their impact in various contexts. In the service system, long waiting time causes customers' no-show behavior, and negative feedback from existing customers, which in turn results in low conversion and loss of revenue for service providers. However, waiting is not always a negative presence. In the online retail system, with the innovation of the sales model, long waiting can earn more time for online retailers to ease the logistics pressure although it may reduce customers' willingness to pay at the same time. Against this backdrop, in …

Essays On New Business Models In Operations, Liling Lu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation consists of three essays about problems of managing operations with emerging new business models that are broadly related to anti-counterfeiting, car subscription programs, and on-demand ride-hailing services. In the following three chapters, each studies one type of new business model with opportunities and challenges, and builds analytical models to explore the implications on firms' operational decisions.

Chapter 2 studies the emergence of “super fakes,” and investigates the effectiveness of the new anti-counterfeiting measure — converting counterfeiters to authorized suppliers. We employ a game-theoretic model to examine interactions between a brand-name firm with its home supplier, and a counterfeiter …

Finding Calm Amidst Chaos, Lisa Knowles Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This commentary on mindfulness and wellness provides the practitioner with strategies to achieve peace amidst chaos.

Organizational Culture During The Era Of A Black Swan: A Phenomenological Examination Of New Hire Sales Training Within A Medical Diagnostic Company, Maelyn Zweben Lessard

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional sales training in a medical diagnostic organization takes place in multiple locations over the period of many months. New hires attend classes with a set group of other new hire employees establishing a cohort. It is the responsibility of the sales training department and the new hire’s direct supervisor to incorporate training into the organizations culture. This is done by bringing the new hire into the corporate office and, through the months of training, exposing the new hire to leadership, support functions, manufacturing, and multiple departments that will support their job moving forward. COVID-19 created a rapid market increase …

A Focus On Followers: Examining Relationships Between Elements Of The Leader-Follower Relationship From The Follower’S Perspective, David James Ross

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines followership style, leadership behaviors, and LMX-quality from the follower’s perspective. This research used Kelley’s followership framework, the full range leadership model, and the LMX-6 instrument to analyze each dimension of the leader-follower relationship. Using a sample of 89 followers from various backgrounds, the study collected data regarding each of the followers’ unique relationships with their leader. These data provided insights into the followers’ current followership style (i.e., their current levels of independent critical thinking and active engagement), their leaders ‘behaviors, and the quality of their individual leader-follower relationship. The researcher used the statistical program JASP to measure …

Simulation Modeling For Robust And Just Public Policy Decision-Making, Jack Mitcham

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Public policy decision-making is challenging for several reasons. First, the outcomes of pulling a public policy lever are often deeply uncertain because of the complexity of the social and physical systems involved. Second, even if outcomes can be predicted, there are multiple points of view to consider, and the same outcome can be viewed anywhere from very positively to very negatively by different stakeholders. Because of this, public policy decisions should be both robust and just. Robustness helps with the uncertainty in outcomes and justice helps with differences in worldview. In this dissertation, I employ system dynamics and agent-based simulation …

To Serve And Deplete: Exploring Outcomes Of Emotional Exhaustion In Servant Leadership And The Moderating Role Of Self-Leadership, April E. Mondy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study explores the outcomes of emotional exhaustion in servant leadership, a leadership style through which leaders enact influence by serving, empowering, and developing others—that is, 'leading from behind.' Drawing on conservation of resources theory, I explored how servant leadership behaviors may adversely affect the practicing leader through emotional exhaustion and laterally influence the subsequent outcomes of work disengagement and work–family conflict. Additionally, I investigated the moderating influence of self-leadership on the relationship between servant leadership and emotional exhaustion. I tested a moderated mediation model with regression analysis using two independent samples of organizational leaders surveyed at two different time …

How Monetary Incentives And Loyalty Affect Goal Realization, Lawrence E. Goehrig

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Monetary incentives are widely known to help motivate employees. Mostly these monetary incentives are used to increase the effort of the employees to attain the goals of the firm. Attaining firm goals will increase revenues, profits, market share, and similarly valued outcomes. These monetary incentives are often a gamble for the firm as there is no direct method to show the impact monetary incentives will have on goal attainment. Other variables come into play when monetary incentives are used. Employee loyalty, locus of control, and dishonest behavior are three that were researched. Employee loyalty can help the firm attain goals …

J Mich Dent Assoc May 2023

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A case study on recognizing the oral signs of Acute Lymphatic Leukemia
• A special pull-out section to assist clinicians in identifying and treating common oral lesions
• Advice on personal Wellness: "Finding Calm Amidst Chaos."
• State of Michigan C.E. Requirements for License Renewal of Dentists, Hygienists, and Registered Dental Assistants.
• A 10Minute EBD contrasting clinical success of composite restorations vs. glass ionomers.
• Guest commentary "Pretty Good Dentistry."
• News you need, Editorial, and an Advocacy Spotlight.

Supply Chain Management Internship Thesis - Hilti & Amazon.Com, Inc., Reagan White

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper will contain an overview of my internship experiences at Hilti and Amazon.com, Inc. It will give insight into the history, culture, and backgrounds of both companies. Additionally, it will address the structure and learning objectives of both internships, with an in-depth analysis of the projects that I completed during my time with both companies. These analyses will describe the underlying business problems that both firms were facing, as well as, the quantitative and qualitative value that was driven by my recommendations and the successful implementation of various supply chain solutions. Given that Hilti and Amazon.com, Inc. differ in …

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt, Parker Shearon

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

An Experiential Report for the degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. Backhaul Strategic Audit, Hadley Hiatt

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) is an athletic apparel company headquartered in Canada. Lululemon targets consumers who strive to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Its business model is based on the “Power of Three x 2” focusing on three strategic pillars, product innovation, guest experience, and international expansion. This analysis seeks to understand Lululemon’s face paced growth and unique business strategy through the use of a PESTEL analysis of macro environment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis of the competitive environment of the industry, analyzing the company’s strategy, major strategic objectives, competitive advantages, resources that may lead to a sustainable competitive advantage, and …

Lululemon Athletica Strategic Audit, Nolan T. Rinn

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) is principally a designer, distributor, and retailer of technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories with a vision to create transformative products and experiences that build meaningful connections, unlocking greater possibility and wellbeing for all (Lululemon). This paper will examine Lululemon to understand its market position and competitiveness within the athletic apparel industry. The analysis uses PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces analyses to evaluate the changing external environment and industry Lululemon operates in.

Diageo Strategic Audit: A Deep Dive Into The Management Strategies Of Diageo, Hailey Hoogers, Maria Alessandro, Joel Myers, Abigail Grimm, Harrison Gates

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Diageo is a multinational premium drink producer and supplier with over 200 brands and sales in over 180 countries. A conglomerate since its founding, Diageo controls and operates some of the world’s well-known and loved drinks, like Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Bailey’s, Captain Morgan, and Crown Royal. The firm is an industry leader in consumer insight, innovation and creativity, and sustainability efforts. Diageo believes pursuing sustainability, efficiency, and positive drinking allows them to compete, now and in the future. This audit analyzes the history, leadership, business model, mission, external environment, internal environment, core competencies, recent performance, competitive dynamics, business level …

Human Psychology Factors Influencing Agile Team Autonomy In Post-Pandemic Remote Software Organizations, Ravikiran Kalluri

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Agile project management methods are gaining in popularity in the software industry as software development teams are being asked to be adaptive to market needs and resilient to change and uncertainty. With increasing market uncertainty, global competition, and time-to-market pressure, it is becoming a challenge to develop an innovative product and deliver it on-time without the opportunity that comes from team autonomy to experiment and learn from failures in a remote workplace. To resolve this challenge, it is critical to understand the myriad human psychological factors in play that influence Agile team autonomy in a remote work environment.

The role …

Business Plan For Destraal Bakery, Lauren Frazier

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Destraal Bakery is a bakery café that will offer patrons a space to slow down and treat themselves. Offering bread products and coffee, Destraal differentiates itself through product quality, shop atmosphere, delivery, and social responsibility. Destraal will eventually seek B- Corp status.

Located in West Colorado Springs, more specifically, Old Colorado Springs, Destraal will benefit from grants and loans offered to female entrepreneurs, high levels of tourism and foot traffic, and close proximity to the target demographic. In a growing industry, Destraal is forecasted to be profitable within the first year. The bakery café will achieve 14% profit margin in …

Hershey/Walmart Internship Halloween Candy Assortment Proposal, Jackson Jones

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

A closer look at a category management internship with The Hershey Company at their Bentonville, Arkansas office. This assesses the Hershey/Walmart relationship as well as an example of an internship project.

The internship project is a hypothetical proposal as to how the Walmart seasonal candy aisle should be merchandised during Halloween 2023.

Factors That Affect The Motivation And Satisfaction Of Emiratis Workforce In Critical And Key Positions: The Case Of The Uae Media Sector, Afra Sulaiman Al Mheiri

Dissertations

With the economic boom of the UAE in recent years, the country has seen a major change in terms of employment of Emiratis and expatriates and influx of foreign job-seekers into UAE market. Despite the federal government's continued efforts to promote Emiratization and create a favourable business environment that attracts Emirati job-seekers, a slight improvement in the employment situation of Emirati workers, especially in key positions in private media sector. Although the UAE media sector plays a key role in reshaping the sociocultural landscape and is used as a soft tool of public diplomacy, it is slow in achieving Emiratization …